Cardiovascular Risk Prediction by the American Diabetes Association Risk-Assessment Tool and Novel and Traditional...

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Cardiology
• Diabetology

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death in type 1 diabetes (T1D).
• The American Diabetes Association (ADA) provides a risk-assessment tool for predicting cardiovascular risk (CVR) in T1D.
• Evaluating CVR and risk factors is crucial for managing T1D complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in young adults with T1D.
• To evaluate cardiovascular risk using the ADA risk-assessment tool.
• To identify correlations between traditional/novel CVRF and the ADA risk tool predictions.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional observational study included 75 individuals aged 18-40 with T1D duration ≥1 year.
• The ADA risk-assessment tool was utilized to predict 10-year cardiovascular risk.
• Prevalence of CVRF like hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle was recorded.

Main Results:

• The study found a high prevalence of dyslipidemia (75%) and overweight (42.7%) among participants.
• Most individuals had a 10-year risk <1% for complications, except for myocardial infarction (MI).
• Non-traditional CVRF such as homocysteine and vitamin D correlated with the ADA risk tool; MI risk was higher in men.

Conclusions:

• Young adults with T1D exhibit a concerning prevalence of CVRF and suboptimal control.
• The ADA risk-assessment tool indicated a low 10-year risk for most complications, with MI being an exception.
• This study is the first to apply the ADA 10-year risk for diabetes complications tool in T1D individuals.